Sterilizing and washing machine



il 1927. Apr 12 L' F. UTZ

STERILIZING AND WASHING MACHINE:

4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 20. 1921 1927'. `Aprll 12 L' F UTZSTERILIZING AND`WASIIING` MACHINE Filed Sent. 2O 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.ffl

G @am n@ 8.

lApril 12 1927.

L'. F. UTZ

STERILIZING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed sent. 26. 1921 L11/lll l/ l/lll/ll 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @25,6859 I'Of' Fla. l/

A TTORNE Y.

I 1 624,026 April 12 1927. A l L. F. UTZ

STERILIZING AND WASHING MACHINE Fi1 ed Sent. 20; 1921 4 SheelLS-Shee'l*l4 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 12, 1927. y

, 1.624.026) unirse STATES PAT'uur OFFICE.

l srERILIzING AND WASHING MACHINE application .ma september My inventionrelates to machines for-sterilizing glass tumblers, bottles, or otherarticles, and simultaneously washing them.

I am aware that there are numerous de vices on the market for washing.table-ware, glasses and the like, but so far as I am advised, there areno machines wlnch accomplish in connection with the act of washing sucharticles the sterilizing of them for a timed period necessary forcomplete safetyl sterilizing solution, after which several washings aregiven to the article to remove l all traces-of thesterilizing liquid.

It is also my object toprovide a washing machine of strong anddurableconstruct1on vand effective mechanical operation, which will'evenly carry the articles to be washed between a series of upper andlower spray heads, saidmechanical arrangements being such that smoothoperation is provided and furthermore a drying chamber is included whichresults in a highly polished article at the end of the process. In,yconnection with the not necessary to lift out the articles before theyare dry, but in which the heat of the machine,- together with themoisture on the glasses and such steani as is carried along with themwill provide a perfect drying without leaving stains or spots, thisdrying not being in a strong currentof dry air, but subject to heatedair and consequent moisture, to the proper degree necessary .for aperfect product.

Another object of my invention is to provide in connection with aseries' of tanks, pumps and spray heads rfor a condenser system, whichprovides a certain quantity of pre-heated water to` one of the tanks andcondenses awaythe vapor rising from the spray heads. This condensersystem enables me to install my device in'l the inest confectioneryshops without resulting in unpleasant odors, or excessive humidity andheat.

In connection with the spraying system I provide a novel quicklyassembled out the nozzles or spray-heads, and the entire drying devices,ity is my object to provide meanswhereby it 1s' machine showing theoperating devi form of sprayer which is and disassembled to clean.

quickly set in place and removed without threaded fittings or the like.l

HAMILToN, omo, AssIGNoa 'ro THE FnEIBEBG-smnann coMPnN/Y, or HAMILTON,omo, A coBP-onA'rIoN or ori-Io.

In order to make my'machine fool-proof, x

I provide for automatically stopping the conveyor movement when .acarrier has reached the drying and delivery compartxlpentdn addition tothe timing devices which rovide proper intermittent motion -fromcompartment to compartment.

In betwe'eneach s raylng chamber I provide a novel form o non-corroslve,metallic screen, whichfislifted out of thesway by the carriers orbaskets.

The .above noted objects land other advanta-ges to be noted I accomplishby that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore specifically pointed out andiclaimed. -Y

In the drawings,l

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section Ythrough the device.

Figure 2 is a section taken vertically, acrossany one of ,thecompartments with the operating devices omitted;

Figure 3 is a section on thev line 3e-3 of Figure l with the operatingdevices for the basket omitted. fr

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal vertical section showing the articlebasket and the sprayer and curtain devices.

Figure 5 is a top planaview of the casing of the machine showingthevtransfe'rring devices or jump bar elements, the top being removedfrom the machine.

Figure 6 is a detail,central longitudinal vertical section of the partsshown. in- Figure A5 with the spray heads removed.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross section of the for the jump bar, taken'onthe line 7`7 of Figure 5. l

Fig-ure 8 is va section takenv on the line .8 8 of Figure 5 showing thejump bar.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the gear boxV and jump" bar energizingdevices-0 Figure 10 is a section on the line of Figure 9. I Figure 11 isa section on the line 11-11 of Figure 9. n

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 9. i'

Figure 13 is a section on the same line as Figure 12 vwith the parts inunclutched position.

roo

Figure 14 is a detail side elevation partlyF broken, away showing thetimmg and clutch r tin devices. f

OpFigurg 1.5 is a erspective view of the article carrying bas et.v

Figure 16 is al perspectlve vlewl broken away of the s raydevic'c.

Figure 17 is a 4,sectlon like Figure 2but on al larger scales' 4Theframe of the device comprises outside standards 1 and an inner row ofstandards 2, which support the tanks and spray devices along one slde.The frame has top bars 3 and an insulated cover 4, preferably of sheetmetal filled with mineral wool. The insulation need not extend over thereceiving and delivery compartment.

On top of this cover, which may be 1n sections so as tobe easily madeand handled,

' is a counter-board 5, which provides a space on which to set thearticles to be washed i and the cleansed and dried articles when theyare finished, and a convenient support for installing the articles 1nthe baskets which carry them through the machine..

` Mounted along the frame 1 on one slde u and the inner frame 2 on theother, are a basket supports.

set of plates 6 arranged to form water retaining tanks. The sides 'ofthese tanks extend from a point above the base sheet 7 of the frame soas to give clearance for the operating shaft and piping to the top ofthe machine, but the partitions 8 between them extend no further up thanthe traveling Hung from suitable cross pieces 9 are a series of curtains(four in number for a three compartment machine), which are made up ofstrips 10 of non-corrosive metal, such as brass, hinged together at 11to make up a flexible flap that depends to the basket supports and liesin a slanting position against side bars 12 secured on the inner wallsof the sheets 6. These curtains extend clear across the spaces above thetank partitions and are suitably weighted so that they will fall bvgravity against the slanting bars and will act to sub-divide the spacesl above the tank partitions into spray chambers. f

For convenienceI have noted the tanks in order as A, B, and C, and thespray compartments above the tanks bv 1^, 1B, and 1". Of these, as willbe noted,` the first tank or tank A contains Aa sterilizing solutionusually of lye and water in proper proportions, the tank B contains hotWater, andthe tank C contains hot water. As 'will be noted, the numberof tanks may be increased in certainA cases and hence are not essential.l

Across the space above the Water level of the tanks and above the spacerequired by the baskets in their travel, are cross pieces 13, whichserveas supports for the spray devices, Same being merely set m placeand partly bars to form a double sli construction to. be noted.

The articles are carried through the ma'- vchine in baskets 14 havingforaminated sides and lgase and side handles 15which, as shown, extendfrom end to end of the baskets and high enough above the bases thereofto lift the curtains clear of the articles in the baskets. The. sides ofthese handles slope at a small incline to readily move the curtains. v

lIn the baskets shown there is a cross strip 16 of foraminated'structureinto which glass tumblers may be set to hold them firmly duringspraying, and the baskets are made of wire of non-corrosive character,suitably woven in an operi-Work structure".

Qn the base of the baskets, at the four corners, are bifurcated fittings17 'andextending along the machine from end to end are angle bars 18,which are engaged by these bifurcated fittings, to hold the basketsslidably in place, but` against being lifted or j arred inl/any respectdue to the operation of the machine. L i

At the receiving compartment, noted at R,and the delivery compartment,noted at D, there are additional strips ai' metal a19 lying justunderthe fianges of the angle eway therewith. The fianges of the anglebars are cut away at, one side as at 20 to permit the operator to. tipthe fittings' of the basket into place over the fiange of the bar at oneside and drop them against the under support where the .cut-awayportions are located, thereby seatlng the basket quickly and easily intoengagement with said anges onto which it rides on the cut-awayf side assoon as movement is started. .l The vlifting of the baskets out isaccomplished by. reversing the steps above noted.

I n the compartment D is a base piece 21, whlch closes this compartmentoli'A from the body of the machine. Th'e compartment R has also a basepiece 22, and the side walls 6 formlng the tank and sprayingcompartments are formedwith glass fronts at the spraymg point as at 23,with the com artments R and D left open at the one sid f the machine foreasy insertion and withdrawal of the, baskets. The outer Wall of thestructure, where the double vertical frame is provided, is entirelyclosed ofl:l by a sheet of metal 24, which is insulated with asbestos,and hung from this side sheet are a series of electric bulbs 25, whichshine through small glass windows 26 set into the inner Walls 6 adjacentto them.

From the above it may be observed that the structure is entirely closedexcept for insertion and withdrawal of the articles to be washed, andthat the operator or others mav see the spraying operation. i n

The escape of humid, heated Iair through lill the receiving compartmentis prevented by the curtain closing oil the spray chamber A, which istrue also of the delivery compartment. However, in order -to get asupply of warm air for drying in the partially enclosed deliverycompartment, I form a duct of sheet metal as. at 26,'and direct it fthem at the inside.

' ing coil, except vA, the heat may from the lower portion of theinterior of the machine lto the delivery compartment through an orifice27 in the base piece thereof, thereby carrying the air warmed by thetanks into the said compartment.

The waterm'rwatzng md condens/er ayatem.v

`. ent pipes 30, which ,come fromfa common cold water pipe 31 at thedelivery end ef the machine.

e The pipes are controlled by valves 32,

so that the flow to each tank may be con,-

' trolledand from the base of each tank exwith ho es therein into whichare. set

live-ryv compartment, has its shaft `upper spray device supports.v

.having tubular extensions41 from 011 `therein to'fo" tends a pipe 33,which runsto a water gauge 34 located adjacent the valves, 'one gaugefor each tank By'this means the water comes into the pipes 29, andthence by a simple thermo-Siphon action down into the coils and backthrough the other pipes 28. The electric motor 35, set beneath the de-36 extended clear across the machine to a gear box 37 at the other end.`Set lalong this shaft are a series of rotary pumps 38, one for eachtank. Each tankhas a pipe extending from its base into a'pump, and fromthe pump a pipe 39 extends up through the space formed by the doubleframe parts, and is equipped w1th connections 39 extending through theside walls 6 just above the level of the lower spray device supports,and just above the The innerwalls 6 are' equipped with plates 39b intowhich these fittings extend, so that holes are formedA into which wateris pumped from2 -each tank above andbelow the basket supporting bars.

The `spray devices are formed of hollow boxes 40, ofsuitablenon-corrosive metal, s1 eA thereof, wliich are equipped with-r'ub caps 42 adaped to fit into the water holes.

The si ray sides of each box are formed v .Spray heads 43 of disk-likeform and havingholes ater jets.'` Theaother'sides -the operator merelylifts out the boxes an the pipes :29 and-drain in the basement or of theboxes Yare formed with lugs 44 extending from the inside thereof, whichare threaded to receive screws 45, which 'en-- gage and pass throughth'e spray heads and maylb'e quickly screwed into thelugs, by olding theheads firmly in the holes.

.This construction is .easy to manufacture and easy to take down andclean. The heavy ,box devices are merely set on the thercsupports withthe rubber caps set into the water holes above noted. No otherconnection is necessary for serviceable water-tight connection, andtheir weight will keep them solidly in place. To clean the spray heads,

.unscrews the retaining screws for the heads, after which they-may belifted out.

For washing lass tumblers or other hollow ware it wi l lbe ncLed thatthe spray heads send sprays of hot water at the articles from bothsides, and thoroughly dirt and, rease therefrom.

A con cnser 46, of any desired type, is` mounted at the receiving end ofthe machine,

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dash all andthe air vconduit portions thereof, as at D" 47, communicatewith a duct 48. From the commonA coldwater ipe of the tank-fillingdevices there is va ourth connection with suitable valve as at 49, fromwhich water runs continuously .(under ordinary conditions) into thewater portions 50 of the -cor.-

denser. v

From .fthe condenser they cooling water passes by a pipe 51 to the tankC and-from tion imparted by afan 55 driven by chain and sprocket(preferably)` from the motor" shaft.- This fan has a pipe 56 from itsblowing end'directedto a discharge 57 at the deli-very end of thecompartment 1C. A duct 58 opens into the' inner side wall of the spraycompartment 1^, and from thence runs to the air1 ducts of the condenser.

Thus the .steam and moisture-laden air from the tanks ,does not get intothe room where lthe machinel is -located,.but instead is condensedby'incomin'g cold water, thereiby heatingv the water-,'fwhich may beused, in

the last tank. Thesuction pipe into .theian extends from'gxel .trap 54to the blower, as vindicated at 'Todrainfthemachine the Auser will usewherever the vheating coils-are located. My machine provides. no heatingdevices in immediate connection therewith, duey to my utilization of thethermo- Siphon principle.

The warm 'air passing up into the delivery compartment ams' its heatfrom contact with the heate .tanks and pipes, and'due to the fact vthat'the articles are delivered ina for each tank the well 52 of thecondenser t e water runs im 4tion to. permit the sterilization to occur,

mainly closed compartment, with heated air in it, the moisture carriedby the articles is dried in air which is partially moist, so that a finepolish is given the articles .and same is quickly dried, whereasif thearticles were to be removed at once to dry at room temperature, themoisture would collect in spots, and when dry leave a film of mark onthe article requiring it to be wiped by a towel.

The intermittent convey/07' system.

It will be remembered that the tank A is provided with a lye solutionfor sterilization of the Iarticles to 'be washed, while the remainingtanks have merely hot Water therein.

In moving the baskets containing the articles to be washed along theways, therefore, it is necessary to hold the basket asuiiicient intervalin the presence of the lye solu- Say, with lye strength which I find tobe satisfactory, for the period of one minute.

I must accordingly move the basket intermittently and time the movementfor the necessary space.

The drive for the moving devices comes yfrom the vmotor shaft heretoforenoted, which passes into a gear case for this pur pose. --The conveyoror moving devices comprise two jump bars or reciprocating bars 60, whichare supported on rollers 61 set into the side walls 6 below the basketsupporting angle bars. i

They carry gravity pawls 62, which when the bars are moved forward willhook behind the' baskets and move them the distance of the bar movement,and when the bars' are retracted will pass under the next basket andengage its end ready 'for moving it along. There are necessarily foursets of pawls, one set for each step-by-step movement of the baskets. I

At the receiving end of the machine the rack bars are connected by crosspieces 63,`

and a pair of reversely turned frames 64 are mounted to extend inwardlyof the cross pieces, forming cam-shaped openings 64a. A

bar65,.having rack teeth cut along both sides thereof, is set under thecross pieces and held against dropping awayby means of cross strips 66,on which the bar rests but is free to slide. a

On the upperside of the bar are two rollers 67, which extend into thecam pockets formed by the frames 64. A shaft 68 driven from the gear boxextends up through the base plate of the receiving chamber and has agear 69 thereon, rack.

This gear is driven in only one direction but it will travel along oneside of the rack bar and thence around its end and back along the otherside. This actionfis permitted by the special mounting of the rack barpermitting its ends to move through a which meshes with the' cam pathfreely.4 It will be noted that this movement completely around the rackbar comprises one complete cycle (gf movement of the jump bar devices.

When the jump bars return to their no rmal position they strike a lever70 pivoted 1n the machine, which lever a link 71, the clutch in the gearbox, as will be noted. When a basket reaches the delivery and dryingcompartmentl it strikes a lever or trigger 72 pivoted to lie across thesaid compartment.

This trigger through a link 7 3, secured to an arm on they shaft 74lthat supports it, inhibits the operation of the timing or automat-icclutch throwingv device.

The gear case carries Within it a worm 75 meshing with a worm gear 76 ona shaft 77. The shaft 78 hasa small worm 7 8a meshing with a Worm wheel79, this latter being the timing wheel.

The shaft-77 on its end opposed to the worm gear 76 has a beveled gear83, thus operating a beveled gear 82 carried on a stub shaft. This gearshaft carries a gear 81 which meshes with a gear 81a. Gear `81a drivesthe shaft 78 by means of the gear 81b thereon. frame 84. l

This frame 84 carries a shaft 85, which has a gear 86 meshing with thegear 83 while movable in a tion thereto.

It also carries a worm 87, and its frame is connected to a toggle 88.This toggle is on a rock shaft 89 at lts other end, such that when therock shaft is moved the toggle shifts the worm 87 upwardly or drops itdown, the upward movement bringing the toggle past the vertical.

When the Worm is forced up it meshes with a worm wheel or gear 90 on thedriving shaft 91, this shaft being the support for the timing gear 79also. The drivg shaft at its end' has a large gear 92 meshing with thegear 93 of the vertical shaft that operoperates through planetary mannerwith krela- The shaft 77 carries a swinging atesthe rack bar gear,heretofore mentioned. i

Against the face of the timing gear-is a clutch tripping member made oftwo disks 94 spring hinged together at 95 and mounted loosely over theshaft 91. The timing gear has a series of holes96 formed in it, and theouter of the two disks- 94 carries a pin 97 which passes through theinner member and engages one of the said holes. The spring hinge serveslto movement.

force.A this' pin into mesh where the `mechanism permits thel The outerdisk carries a tongue 98, which i for throwing the clutch in andthe jumpbar trip lever operates the clutch to throw it out.

The trigger 72, operating its shaft74. and thence the rigid link 73 inthe deliveryaompartment of the machine' acts to prevent the operation ofthe clutch tripping member of the timing gear by spreading the twohinged disks and removing the pin on the outer one from mesh in theholes of the time gear proper. Thus the link from this trigger engagesan arm 105, which carries a knife piece 106, said knife piece lying in aposition to enter between the two disks as they come around and forcethem apart. A foot treadle may control this also through a link 105e.

Thus when a basket of glasses or what not comes into the deliverycompartment, the next regular operation of the jump bars will beprevented, while the pumping of water, and the rest of the action of themachine will go on until the basket is removed,

whereupon the spring 107 will retract the trigger link and4 the timegear, and the clutch operating member again pinned to it will throw inthe clutch and the feed will begin again.

The slide rod which is controlled by the jump liar trip is returned ltonormaliposition as soon as the jump bars start to move by a spring 108on the jump bar lever. This throws the operating` end of the book downbehind the disk on the slide and since ythe hook cannot swing furtherthan the position shown in Figure 13, the clutch may close and the sliderod move to running position of the machine without the hook interferingtherewith, while the stoppin 109v directs the hook into its engagingposition behind the disk (Figure 12) as soon,` as the jump bars starttoA move.

It is not believed to be necessary to describe the operation of themachine as a p whole. It is evident that the proper timed motion of thebaskets is gained through a mechanical timing device, although thismight be electrical, if desired.

The machine may be made to operate more quickly than one basket perminute, by using four tanks, two of which are lled with lye lever has ahook 101 Y solution and the vbasket permitted to stay one half minute ineach lye tank.

The gearing devices might, of course, be modified, and the onesdescribed are merely the preferred ones, and furthermore the machineneed not be used forglass tumblers only, although in the particulardesign illusvtrated and described it is specially adapted for usc withhollow ware.

Among other features of my invention I lay particular stress on the factthat the machine can be installed in a confectioncrs shop or drug store,and lett in plain view of the customers, without heating' up the room,and with the result of assuring the customer of clean and fullysterilized glasses, cups or bottles,

'lhefreedom from jar and rattling due to the baskets and slideways is a.valuable fea-d ture, as is the fool-proof arrangement at the deliveryand drying compartment.

I have not attempted to describe various modiications of my presentdesign of machine, but do not wish this to be used as indicating that Ido not desire to include within myinvention, as expressed in thefollowing claims, mechanical equivalents for the parts named.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,water tanks therein, spray heads located above the tanks, andmeans forforming compartments of the space above the tanks comprising dependingscreens formed of metallic plates hinged together and secured to thecasing so as to depend and act as a curtain.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,movable closures forming compartments therein, spray devices in saidcompartments and a support for a container, and a container formed offoraminated material dles, said handles being adapted to contact withthe movable closure, and haviig la height equal, at least, to articlesplaced in said container. A

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination 'of acasing, depending screens forming compartments in said casing, spraydevices in said compartments a support for a container within saidcomartments, and a container of foraminated material adapted to engagesaid support, said container having side handles extending upwardly atthe corners thereof, and thence at a height, at least, equal to thearticles'to be placed in Said basket across the sides thereof. A

LOUIS F. UTZ.

as the case may be.

and havingside hanllO

